California’s Tsunami Preparedness Week Set for March 25-29 with Record Number of Participants

PR Newswire

LOS ANGELES, March 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- California is subject to a tsunami at any time, whether locally generated (in which we may have only minutes to act) or distant (in which we may have hours to act). A tsunami is a series of waves that may last for hours, even days, and are typically caused by undersea earthquakes. The last major tsunami to impact California was from the 2011 M9.0 Tohoku (Japan) earthquake which caused more than $100 million in damage along our coast, with waves arriving for more than 24 hours.

Fortunately, we can prepare to survive and recover from the next major tsunami. This year, California's Tsunami Preparedness Week is March 25-29. Everyone, everywhere in California is encouraged to register their participation, get to know their zone, and spread the word. Participants represent all sectors, such as individuals, families, schools, colleges, businesses, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and neighborhood groups. The types of tsunami preparedness activities held are diverse and include evacuation drills ("tsunami walks"), warning tests, public lectures, and social media events, or even just checking flood insurance rates, organizing disaster supplies, or testing family or workplace communication plans.

"Taking the time to prepare yourself and your family for disasters, including tsunamis, gives you peace of mind and makes our communities stronger and more resilient," said Mark Ghilarducci, Director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services. "We can reduce the number of casualties and loss by taking simple steps now."

Find lists of participants in California's Tsunami Preparedness Week at TsunamiZone.org, along with information on how to participate and register your own activity.

Major public and media events are listed at TsunamiZone.org/calendar. In Long Beach, a "Tsunami Walk" will occur on Saturday, March 23, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM, with officials and experts from a variety of local, state, and federal organizations.

KEY MEDIA RESOURCES:

TsunamiZone.org/resources — links to educational materials, graphics, and videos for tsunami science and preparedness

TsunamiZone.org/calendar — public and media events listed by county

CONTACT:

Jason BallmannSouthern California Earthquake Center
213.740.1560
ballmann@usc.edu

TsunamiZone.org is managed by the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) at the University of Southern California (USC), and is an effort funded by the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP). SCEC's primary, major support is from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Additional funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) also helps SCEC globally coordinate Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills (ShakeOut.org).